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Did your Dog Lose or Gain Weight over the Winter?

3157 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  Trickster, 
G
I just got back from the vet. Sami is down to 51.9 lbs. I feel bad ... I had no idea that she'd dropped 4-5 lbs over the winter.
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zoesmom
Zoe stayed the same. We don't have drastic change of seasons over here.

How did she lose 4-5 pounds, I wonder. I thought most dogs gain.
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G
zoesmom said:
How did she lose 4-5 pounds, I wonder. I thought most dogs gain.
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Well for the most part our winter was mild. We hike everyday and do alot of off leash retrieving. She loves the cold weather, so we spent alot of time outdoors playing. Maybe too much :p Guess I'm going to have to stop in at the vet and get her weighed more often. I bet she's going to enjoy the extras she gets while she's porking up! ;D
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T
Theo lost 6--he was getting a lil' pudgy. He's back down to his fighting weight (73 lbs.).

I, on the other hand... ::)
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G
theoconbrio said:
I, on the other hand... ::)
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I understand. Theo lost it, you found it! ;D
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B
Puff gained appetite and a few pounds but now that it's in the 70s (ºF) I hope she gets back to her normal 62.
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R
All of mine lost. Actually too much. I'm fattening them up now.
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A
Angus was losing, then we upped his food just a tad and now he's almost 70 again. That's too much for him. :-\

Simon stays remarkably consistent, or seems to. He never looks overweight. Angus, we are going to have to be very careful with him.
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D
Oh I wish that Moose would have lost vs gained. I was looking at him last night and he definately needs to lose about 5lbs., if not more. Sky always seems to stay constant, but then she is constantly on the move begging for retrieves.
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labby
Mine all stayed the same
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B
Brigetta lost weight over the Winter. I also felt so bad. We actually increased our activity over the Winter since the weather was mild and I should have thought to increase her food intake. The Summer months are so hot and humid here, we are not outdoors nearly as much. I increased her food and we were at the vets a couple of weeks ago and she has put a few pounds back on, but still needs to gain a few more.
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H
Henery lost about 3 or 4lbs between November and February... I have him on a new food though and am playing around with the amounts until we get his weight steady! He's hovering in around the 62lb mark!
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G
If you feed a dog X amount of food over the summer and they are maintaining their weight for months and then the winter comes and you keep the dog on X amount of food and keep the activity level the exact same, most dogs will lose weight. My vet told me that a dogs metabolize faster in the cold weather - even though you may not think so, but when you are out with your dog, they burn many more calories in the cold weather to keep warm...

So if you want to keep up the same weight over the winter, up a amount you feed just a little bit during the colder months.
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Trickster
Mine stayed the same.
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Emma the Lab
Emma stayed the same. She was so lean so she couldn't lose anything. BUT after the surgery I have spoiled her a little too much ::) so I think she has gained a pound or so the last month... Diet for miss Emma. ;)
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Trickster
I forgot to say that if my dogs are likely to gain any (which is rare for my boys, but Maisy can and does gain very quickly) weight it would be during the summer and not the winter months. They are very active throughout the winter -- shooting season, extra walks/training sessions, etc. In the summer months it is too hot and humid to be very active. The only time they can be really active during the summer is the mornings and unfortunately I can't find the time to be out for hours in the AM. They still get around 2 hours of activity a day but they are not active on the whole because the heat makes them sluggish.

Guess I'm going to have to stop in at the vet and get her weighed more often. I bet she's going to enjoy the extras she gets while she's porking up!
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Does she actually need to gain weight? ie; she is too skinny? because it is not abnormal for a dog to fluctuate between a few pounds. For example, my Murph has fluctuated between 58-62lbs, neither of which are particularly noticeable.
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